Charge sheet filed in Srinagar
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 8: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) today achieved a major breakthrough with the arrest of the kingpin of a narco-terror module from Mumbai airport.
Mohd Arshad alias Asif, son of Mohammad Rashid, a resident of Degwar-Terwan village in Haveli tehsil of Poonch, had been absconding since 2023 and was operating from Saudi Arabia, a spokesperson of the agency said here.
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“He was the kingpin of a narco-terror module and key link between Pakistan-based handlers and narco-terror operatives in Jammu and Kashmir,” the spokesperson said.
The SIA Jammu had earlier issued a Look-Out Circular (LOC) against Arshad in 2023, followed by the issuance of a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) from the competent court.
Four terrorists were apprehended after encounter in Pir Panjal range on May 30/31 night in 2023 along with large quantity of heroin, arms and explosives.
Arshad has been taken into custody on a three-day transit remand from Mumbai, he said.
A total of eight accused were found involved in the case, out of which two were absconding. One absconder, Laquit Ahmed, was earlier arrested by SIA-Jammu from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad in March 2025, who had absconded soon after the incident to Dubai, the spokesperson said.
Arshad had facilitated the travel of co-accused Ahmed to Dubai and also organised a secret meeting in the Surankote area of Poonch for reviving terrorism and narco-terror activities in the Pir Panjal region under his guidance, the he said.
“The arrest marks a significant success for the SIA, Jammu and Kashmir in its sustained efforts to dismantle networks involved in narco-terrorism and cross-border subversive activities,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir today filed a charge sheet in a narco-terror case registered in January this year.
According to a statement issued here, the charge sheet was produced before the Court of Special Judge (designated under the NIA Act), Srinagar, in connection with a case registered as FIR No. 03/2025 of Police Station Parimpora.
As per the SIA, the case pertains to a narco-terror module allegedly operated by Pakistan-based terrorist handler Mushtaq Ahmad Khan alias Khalid Bhai, affiliated with the banned outfit Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM).
The charge sheet has been filed under Sections 13, 18, 20, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), read with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Sections 8, 21, and 29 of the NDPS Act, against seven accused persons.
The accused have been identified as Anas Aijaz, son of Aijaz Ahmad Awan, resident of Dildhar, Tangdhar, Kupwara; Zahid Ahmad Sheikh, son of Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Chinnipora Bala, Tangdhar; Tanzeer Ahmad Najar, son of Muhammad Syed Najar, resident of Sudhpora, Karnah; Bilal Shabir Awan, son of Shabir Ahmad Awan, resident of Dildhar, Tangdhar (presently absconding); Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, son of Gulzar Ahmad Khan, resident of Trumnard Batpora, Kupwara (presently operating from Pakistan); Basit Ashraf Malik, son of Mohammad Ashraf Malik, resident of Nowpora, Safakadal, Srinagar; and Arsalan Mushtaq Bangri, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bangri, resident of Nowhatta, Srinagar.
According to the SIA, the case was registered on January 6, 2025, at Police Station Parimpora after more than nine kilograms of heroin were recovered from a Tata Sumo (registration number JK05D-1837) during a naka checking near Parimpora.
The vehicle was driven by Anas Aijaz, accompanied by Zahid Ahmad Sheikh, both residents of Karnah, Kupwara.
In view of the gravity of the matter, the case was later handed over to SIA Kashmir for investigation.
During the probe, the agency said it uncovered a wider transnational narcotics and terror-financing network involved in smuggling narcotics to generate funds for sustaining terrorism through drug proceeds.
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